THIS IS LIFE

Listed as number nine on the 2012 gayest city in the United States of America, Atlanta boasts of having by far the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) event dubbed Atlanta Pride. This is an event that brings together LGBT and straight allies to festivities that include diverse events such as music and dance, information vendors including NGOs and Health Organisations as well as cultural exhibits. Atlanta pride is expected to bring 200,000 attendants. So how did I find myself at the Atlanta 2012 pride? I was minding my own business in the office when one of my workmates casually mentioned that it was National Coming Out Day. This aroused my curiosity and I laughingly asked her what the coming out was all about. She along with my other workmates patiently took time explaining to me that the day was to encourage all LGBT to come out and be proud of who they were without fear. As my jaw dropped open in realization that this was no joke, my co-workers went on to tell...

One of the biggest and most prestigious events by Zambians in the diaspora events will be held on 13 October 2012 in New York City. Over the last two years that the ceremony has been running, seventeen Zambians have been conferred with the Mwape Peer Awards. Initiated in 2010 by James and Ruth Mwape, the idea to have Peer awards was conceived by the couple who had just moved from New York to New Jersey. After establishing their website www.mwape.com which includes a section dubbed brain drain, the Mwape’s begun listing the Zambians who were in the diaspora. The idea was to establish a list of accomplished Zambians and to appear on that list one had to have a minimum of a Master’s Degree. The list later culminated into a book that was published entitled ‘Mwape Who’s who among Zambians’.  The Mwape’s went on to pioneer the first diaspora online radio show which featured Zambians from all sectors including politicians. The diaspora voice has been running for five years and ...

Town mummy! town mummy muyenda??? For many years around 4am when all is peaceful and quiet this is the Alarm that woke me up and told me it was four am. That is the price I paid for living near the bus station, it was the sound of the zealous bus conductors calling out to customers mostly the women who sold in the markets going to order their merchandise which included live chickens, vegetables and many other goods for resale. I am in the United States and yes my fellow leader Chris is always there to remind me that am in the US. Things are different here I have to walk a good 15 minutes to get to the bus station that takes me to the train station where I have to get on a train that takes me to my final destination and that is how I travel to work and around Atlanta. One thing I realize is I have lost work. I took a look at myself in the mirror and I almost couldn’t recognize myself I just said wow I cannot afford to loose weight but again all the walking I have done in the last ...

A week plus into being in Atlanta and there moments I still feel homesick and missing so many things about Zambia. Well I guess home is where the heart is as they say, however we thank God for the gift of friendships because they are able to give us some form of coping Mechanism.   My new friend Terri Gonzales has been instrumental in helping me calm down in my moments of challenge and confusion but it’s been so soothing. This is notwithstanding the fact that there has been mad love from my friends from all over the states that for some reason my phone appears to have become a switchboard too. After a week long search for housing which was a nightmare but a blessing at the same time I am finally settled in a very beautiful area in Atlanta. My bedroom has a beautiful view of pine trees that give it a sense of serenity and peace. It reminds me of the year I spent researching on traditional ceremonies in Zambia. Atlanta is a very green place there are trees everywhere and its am...

By Susan Mwape There once was Chief who lived in Kazimuli village. The chief married a very beautiful woman and people came from other villages to just look at the chiefs beautiful wife.  As part of the village entertainment every year, there used to be an annual dance competition ceremony which brought women from the village to a dancing competition. When the Chief’s wife heard about the competition she became miserable. This was because in as much as she was very beautiful she had small flat buttocks. When she looked around the village she saw that most of her friends and women in the village were fat and most of them also had big buttocks. She then realized that she did not stand a chance in competing with those women. After thinking and thinking the Chief’s wife saw a dog that they used to keep ate the palace. The dog had big buttocks so the chiefs wife decided to go and talk to it. She told the dog about the competition and explained to it how sad she was that s...